Thank Goodness for "The Da Vinci Code"

What!! What is she saying She’s Catholic, right?? She’s writing for a column called: “Me, Myself and God”, isn’t she??

Yes, I am. I am a Catholic, born and bred and I live my faith everyday. I go to Mass, I go to confession when I can, I give what I can – I say a prayer before I eat, even if I‘m alone in a food court. More than that, I love my God with everything that I am. That is my kind of faith – one that cannot be toppled easily by a book.

Why do I say: “Thank goodness for the Da Vinci Code”? It’s because it got people talking about God again. Dan Brown’s novel enabled the Lord to be centre-stage again, instead of in the background where most of us have put Him. It got people questioning what Christianity was all about and while some people might have turned away, another’s eyes are opened to the Lord’s truth.

It’s ok to question and argue about our faith. I believe the Lord never wanted us to follow Him blindly. I’ve had encounters in the past with people who do and when I asked why they do this and that, they answer, “Because God says so,” and that’s it. No reason. No explanation.

I question God all the time. I always ask why. Why did this happen? Why did that person die and not that one? Why aren’t you answering my prayer when you’ve answered hers? Those sort of questions. And you know what? I think He likes that. Because it means that I actually stay close to Him. I look at what He’s done and try to understand His will (even though it’s impossible most of the time!!).

Okay, if I sound confusing, imagine this. Imagine your best friend comes to you and says: “I have had the worst day ever,” and you answer: “Oh you poor thing!” but that’s it. You don’t ask why it was the worst day ever, what happened, how’s she’s feeling, etc. Doesn’t it give the impression that you don’t care? A true friend, one who really cares would have asked all those questions, and I believe…this is the same with God. He doesn’t mind us asking questions or even doubting Him sometimes because what it means is that you’re actually thinking about Him.

God gave us all the freedom of choice and yes, sometimes that choice is whether to follow Him or turn away. For us that do follow Him, it’s important to remember that He doesn’t want blind followers with no minds of our own. He wants us as His sons and daughters and, show me a son or daughter who’s never questioned their parents! But as we question, we must always be open to acceptance. That is, to accept that He does know more about the universe than we do. He can see the whole picture. Past, present and future. While we can only see a very small part of the whole. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29: 11